New study uncovers link between loneliness and unhealthy habits

In a study of 264 college students, those who reported higher levels of loneliness also consumed more fat and were more sedentary and sedentary compared to those who reported lower levels of loneliness.

College students who reported higher levels of loneliness also reported being sedentary and having lower levels of physical activity.

Moving to a new environment, a common experience for college freshmen, can lead to increased feelings of loneliness. The National College Health Assessment reports that feelings of loneliness among college students have increased dramatically over the past decade.

In addition, a 2021 survey showed that 44% of US college students consider themselves to be overweight or obese. While loneliness has been associated with unhealthy weight and lack of physical activity, there is not enough research on college student eating habits and their effect on obesity among this population.

Using data from the Mason: Health Starts Here cohort study, M.D. Li Jiang found that loneliness is associated with changes in diet and physical inactivity. The research was conducted as part of Jiang’s master’s thesis, and Mason Chair of Nutrition and Nutritional Research Lawrence J. Cheskin, Associate Professor Lillian de Jonge, former faculty member Kara Frankenfeld, and former researcher Ziaul H. Rana also contributed to the project.

“Our study confirms the potential need for further research to understand the unhealthy eating behaviors and physical activity that may be associated with loneliness, an emotion that affects many college students,” Jiang says.

Sedentary (19.2%) and inactive (53.8%) lifestyles were more common among students who reported high levels of loneliness (score ranges 4–6 and 7–9) than those who reported low levels of loneliness ( score 10–12). Students who reported more loneliness consumed more fat than students who reported less loneliness.

“Interventions to reduce loneliness can have a positive impact on improving the health of this population. These findings are consistent with other initial findings from the Health Starts Here study that college students are not following healthy eating guidelines and not getting enough physical activity,” said Cheskin, who has an MD.

Reference: “Loneliness is associated with unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity among US college students” Li Jiang, M.D., Lawrence J. Cheskin, M.D., Kara L. Frankenfeld, Ph.D., Ziaul H. Rana, Ph.D. and Lilian de Jonge, PhD, November 17, 2022, Journal of American College Health.
DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2141060

The study is a cross-sectional study that analyzed baseline data collected during the first wave of Mason: Health Start Here in 2019 and was funded by the Institute for Biohealth Innovation at George Mason University.

Mason: Health Starts Here is a first-of-its-kind transdisciplinary student cohort study focused on understanding and improving the health and well-being of university students. This study will cover a wide sample of young adults, especially Mason students, over time to reveal the diversity of their college experiences and how this affects their health and well-being.